substantial consensus

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial consensus" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a significant agreement among a group of people or experts on a particular issue or topic. Example: "After extensive discussions, the committee reached a substantial consensus on the proposed policy changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Everyone agrees that far more homes need to be built in the capital and there's a substantial consensus about how.

The Guardian - Opinion

"What's extraordinary about this moment in time, on both missile defense and the greenhouse effect, is the substantial consensus against the White House policy".

The New York Times

News stories are plenty long enough as it is, and a conscientious reporter will not generalize about "experts" unless there is a pretty substantial consensus.

The New York Times

There was considerable diversity of opinion at the workshop about both methods and fundamental issues, and yet substantial consensus about what the answers to the problems were, and even about how each of the four issues should be addressed.

Reliability Engineering & System Safety

First, the CAB has developed substantial consensus norms.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

The chairman stated that even though they have reached unanimous decisions and substantial consensus on several biotechnological procedures with animals, the moral status requires further debate.

Life Sciences, Society and Policy

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

At the World Bank session, president Robert S. McNamara noted there was a strong consensus - including the U.S. - for a substantial general capital increase.

The Washington Post

2 For a substantial period of time there has been significant consensus that leadership is not just an inherent 'in-born' trait.

BMJ Open

However, substantial knowledge of, and interest in, landscape matters was apparent amongst the public, and there was also significant consensus across different respondent groups.

Applied Geography

They are a pervasive feature of its reasoning practices, illustrated in textbooks that capture substantial community consensus about standards of explanation, experimental methods, essential concepts, and empirical content.

SEP

Obama seems to be saying that it is not the place of the USA to act arbitrarily, and that agreement with other nations about intervention in Libyan affairs requires substantial international consensus before acting.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or formal writing, "substantial consensus" adds credibility by highlighting that the agreement is not just a majority opinion but a widely held view among experts.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial consensus" when there are still significant dissenting opinions or unresolved issues. Ensure that the level of agreement truly warrants the term "substantial" to maintain accuracy and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial consensus" functions as a noun phrase that describes a state of agreement. It indicates that there is a considerable level of agreement among a group of people or experts, as demonstrated by the examples found by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "substantial consensus" is a phrase used to indicate a significant level of agreement among a group, as confirmed by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and commonly used in formal and professional contexts, particularly in science, news, and business. While "consensus" implies general agreement, "substantial consensus" emphasizes the breadth and depth of that agreement. Alternatives include "broad agreement", "widespread accord", and "general concurrence". When using this phrase, ensure that the level of agreement truly warrants the term "substantial" to maintain accuracy and credibility. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness and provides various examples across different domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

broad agreement

Emphasizes the extent of the agreement among a large group.

widespread accord

Highlights the harmony and alignment of opinions across a wide range.

general concurrence

Focuses on the overall agreement, suggesting a lack of significant opposition.

considerable unanimity

Implies a near-total agreement, with very few dissenting voices.

marked consensus

Highlights the noticeable or distinct nature of the agreement.

significant harmony

Focuses on the harmonious alignment of opinions, indicating a strong level of agreement.

prevailing consensus

Suggests that the agreement is dominant and widely accepted at the present time.

extensive alignment

Emphasizes the thorough and comprehensive nature of the agreement.

notable accord

Highlights that the agreement is worth paying attention to because it is significant or unusual.

major convergence

Indicates that different opinions or ideas have come together to form a large area of agreement.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "substantial consensus" in a sentence?

Use "substantial consensus" to emphasize that there's a significant agreement among a group, like in this example: "There is "substantial consensus" among scientists regarding the effects of climate change."

What are some alternatives to "substantial consensus"?

Alternatives to "substantial consensus" include "broad agreement", "widespread accord", or "general concurrence", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "substantial consensus" in informal contexts?

While "substantial consensus" is more common in formal and academic writing, it can be used in informal contexts if you want to emphasize the significant level of agreement. However, simpler terms might be more suitable depending on your audience.

What's the difference between "consensus" and "substantial consensus"?

"Consensus" implies a general agreement, while "substantial consensus" emphasizes that the agreement is significant and widely held. Using "substantial" strengthens the idea of agreement, indicating it's more than just a simple majority.